Question : ELIGIBILITY FOR RSBY

(a) the criteria adopted to identify the eligibility for availing benefits of Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY);

(b) the estimated number of workers/labourers eligible for availing benefits of RSBY, State-wise;

(c) the number out of them enrolled/registered itself under RSBY since its inception, State-wise and year-wise;

(d) the steps taken by the Government to bring more uncovered eligible workers/labourers under the ambit of the RSBY; and

(e) the further steps taken by the Government to educate the covered beneficiaries about the scheme to utilize full benefits of the RSBY?

MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI HARISH RAWAT)

(a): The BPL families in the BPL list made available by the State Government are eligible for enrolment under Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY).

(b): As per Planning Commission estimate, there were about 30 crore BPL population. Taking the family size of 5 members, it was estimated to be 6 crore BPL families.

(c): As on 31.07.2010, more than 1.74 crore BPL families have been covered and they have been issued smart cards. A Statement showing the State-wise and Year-wise number of smart cards issued to BPL families under RSBY is annexed.

(d): The scheme has been extended to all building and other construction workers registered under the Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Condition of Services), Act, 1996. In the Budget, 2010-11, the Government announced extension of RSBY to Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act beneficiaries who have worked more than 15 days in the preceding financial year and to all licensed porters, vendors and hawkers, who are from the unorganised sector and are socially challenged. The National Social Security Board, constituted under the Unorganised Workers’ Social Security Act 2008, has met twice and has recommended Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY), Janshree Bima Yojana (JBY) and Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) for certain categories of unorganised Workers.

(e): Insurance Company in consultation with State Nodal Agency prepares and implements a communication strategy for launching/ implementing the RSBY. Intermediaries appointed by the Insurance Company undertake campaigns to inform the beneficiaries regarding enrolment and benefits of the scheme and help them to avail benefits under the scheme. State Governments also undertake communication activities, especially to improve the utilization of the scheme.